Corner hinge construction



Aug. 6, 1963 L. T. ROY

CORNER HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1959 FIG. 2

M M w J C Ow e United States Patent 3,14%),073 (IQRNER HINGECONSTRUCTIGN Leo Theodore Roy, South Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Craft,Inc, South Attlehoro, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 2,1959, Ser. No. 7%,634 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) The present inventionrelates generally to a hinge construction, and more specifically to anovel and improved hinge for use with boxes of cardboard or otherstructurally weak material, such as are commonly used in connection withthe shipment and display of jewelry articles and the like.

A longstanding problem in the art relating to small hinged boxes ofcardboard and the like has been the complete lack of structural rigiditywhich exists in such boxes. More specifically, it has heretofore beencustomary to hingedly attach the body and cover sections of such boxesby means of hinge plates secured to the rear walls of the sections. Thisarrangement, of course, imparts a certain degree of rigidity to the rearwall of the box, but the side walls and front walls are completelyunsupported unless some sort of metal liner is provided, and this isundesirable for many reasons in boxes of this type because of resultingincreased cost, weight, etc.

Furthermore, where boxes of this type are hinged at their rear walls, arelatively Weak structural foundation is provided for the hinge elementsdue to the inherent flexibility and weakness of the rear walls. This isparticularly true in connection with boxes having relatively long,shallow rear walls, as, for example, illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, and it has been found that this results in disadvantageousrelative movement of the hinge elements relative to the box proper dueto flexure of the structurally weak rear walls on which the hingeelements are mounted.

Thus, where small hinged jewelry boxes and the like are constructed ofcardboard or some other equally structurally Weak material and thehinges are rearwardly mounted as above described, there has been atendency for the box to lose its shape with continued usage. Thisdistortion not only provides an unsightly appearance, but it also makeseifective closing of the box difficult, if not impossible. For example,where the box is of rectangular shape as is customary in boxes of thistype, it has been found that virtually no resistance against deformationof the side walls exists unless some sort of corner supports areemployed. In other words, there is a tendency for a rectangular box toassume the shape of a parallelogram upon the exertion of very littleforce, and, as hereinbefore indicated, the only way this inherentWeakness can be overcome is by the provision of some sort of metal lineror corner supports, which is undesirable for the reasons hereinbeforeenumerated. Also, since the hinges are normally mounted to a portion ofthe box which is structurally weak, a sort of flopping action commencesto exist after continued usage of the box.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is the provision of anovel and improved hinge which will effectively mount a box cover andbody section to each other in the desired pivotal relation and which atthe same time will impart a high degree of structural rigidity to bothsections of the box.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a hinge forcardboard boxes and the like, said hinge being specifically designed formounting in the box corners, it being understood that the box cornerspossess a relatively high degree of strength and rigidity whereby arelatively inflexible foundation is provided for mounting the hinge.

3,100,073 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 ice Another object of this invention isthe provision of a hinge of the character described which may be simplyand economically manufactured and easily assembled with its associatedbox.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated byme for carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box and hinge assembly embodying theinstant invention, said box being shown in open position;

FIG. 2. is a front elevatioual view of the hinge per se;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side edge view thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,a box is generally illustrated at 10 comprising a cover section 12 and abody section 14. The box 10 is generally of the type used in connectionwith the shipment and display of jewelry and is constructed of cardboardor similar fibrous material characterized by its relatively lowstrength. It will be understood, however, that the instant invention isnot limited in application to a jewelry box nor to any specificconstructional material since, as will hereinafter become apparent, thebasic concepts of my invention are applicable and of value in connectionwith any box characterized by low structural rigidity.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that cover section 12 andbody section 14 are each of substantially identical rectangularconfiguration. More specifically, cover section 12 comprises a top wall16-, front wall 18, side walls 20, 22 and a rear wall 24. Likewise, bodysection 14 comprises a bottom wall 26, front wall 28, side walls 30, -32and rear wall 34. As will be noted, the cover and body sections arehingedly attached to each other with their rear walls in edge abuttingrelation by means ot hinge elements generally designated as 36.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, it will be seen that hinge elements36 comprise a pair of substantially rectangular hinge plates 38 and 40,the plate 38 having a top edge 42, side edges 44, 46, and a bottom edge48, while plate 40 is provided with a top edge 50, side edges 52, 54-and bottom edge 56. The top and bottom edges of the hinge plates 88 and'40 are provided with interengaging hinge rolls 58 in axial alignmentsoas to receive a hinge pin 60, as is conventional in the art. Plates 38and 40* are further characterized by the presence out openings 62therein for the reception of leaf spring 64 whereby to maintain thehinge plates in either open or closed position with respect to eachother, as is also conventional in the art. It will be noted that theopenings 62 are provided with a dished peripheral portion 66 forreceiving the bent-over ends 68 of spring 64, while oppositely disposedfrom said dished portions there is provided integrally extendingprojections 70, said projections functioning to maintain the spring frombecoming inadvertently detached from the hinge during shipment and saleof the latter per se, as more fully described in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 642,991, filed February 28, 1957.

Integrally extending from adjacent side walls of hinge plates 38 and 40are a pair of substantially identical flanges 72, each of said flangesbeing of substantially rectangular configuration, although it will beunderstood that the shape of the flanges is in no way critical. It isimportant to note that said flanges extend substantially perpendicularlyfrom the plane of plates 38 and 40 and that the flanges themselves arein the same plane. A plurality of gripping prongs 74 are integrallystruck from flanges 72 and extend in a direction away from the plates3-8 and 40 for reasons hereinafter to be made apparent.

In assembly, identical hinge elements 36 are mounted in "the-rearconnersof the box 10, asclear1y shown in FIG. -1. As will be seen, thehinge plates 38 and 40 overlie rear walls 24 and 34at the end portionsthereof whereupon the perpendicularly extending flanges 72-a-re adaptedto engage the inner surfaces of the box side walls and are securedthereto by means of the gripping prongs "74 which are forced into thesaid side walls and then clinched outwardly so as to effect a tight andsecure gripping engagement. ltwill be understood, however, that theflanges 72 could be secured to the box side walls by means other thangripping prongs 74 without departing from the spirit of'my invention.-At any rate, it will beseen that since flanges 72 are rigidly securedto the inner surfaces of the boxside walls, hinge plates 38and '40 willbe maintained in their proper relative position even though they, inthemselves, are not attached to the box rear walls, although suchattachment could exist, if desired. I find, however, that a simpler andmore effective assembly is obtained by leaving the hinge plates indisconnected relation with respect to the box rear walls, although inengagement therewith, whereupon the only securement which exists for thehinge elements is that of the flanges 72 to the box side walls.

Once the hinge elements -36 have been assembled to box :10 in the mannerabove described, it will be obvious that cover section 12 is mounted inpivotal relation to body section 14 with spring 64 functioning tomaintain the sections in open position, as shown in FIG. 1, or in closedposition (not shown). -At the same time, since the hinge plates andtheir perpendicularly extending flanges snugly engage the rear cornersof the box cover and body sections, it will be seen that a great deal ofstructural rigidity is imparted to the box and, more specifically, thatthe shape of the box will be effectively maintained. ln addition, sincethe corner portions of the box are-relatively rigid from a structuralstandpoint, it follows that by mounting the hinges at the corners afirmer hinge foundation is established, thereby promoting a moreefficiently closing box. If desired, an additional hinge element couldbe secured to the center portion of the box rear walls, although it hasbeen found in practice that such an additional hinge is not necessary,and hence I prefer 'to-omit 'same.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those-skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangement of the parts may be madewith out departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms hereinshown and described except in so far as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a box constructed of a material having the flexiblecharacteristics of cardboard, a body section, a cover section adapted tooverlie said body section, said body and cover sections each havingfront, rear and side walls, hinge means for hingedly attaching saidsections to each other with their Walls in substantially edge-to-edgeabutting relation, said hinge means including a pair of-hinge elementsthat are positioned at the rear corners of said box, each of said hingeelements including a first and second plate, said plates being hingedlyattached to each other and each plate over-lying the inner surface ofthe rear Wall of its associated section at the opposite end portionthereof, each of said plates being in engagement with said inner surfaceof the rear wall of its associated section but otherwise disconnectedtherefrom, flanges integrally joined to said plates and extendingperpendicularly firom the sides thereof, each of said flanges engagingthe inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the associated sectionand being in substantially the same plane, the edge of each of saidflanges that is adjacent the outer edge of the associated plate beingcoextensive therewith, the other edge of each of said flanges that isadjacent the hinge axis of said hinge elements being foreshortened withrespect to the edge of said plate adjacent thereto, and means forsecuring each of said flanges to its respective side wall.

2. In a box constructed of a material having the flexiblecharacteristics of cardboard, a body section, a cover section adapted tooverlie said body section, said body and cover sections each havingfront, rear and side walls, hinge means for hingedly attaching saidsections to each other with their Walls in substantially 'edge-to-edgeabutting relation, said hinge means including a pair of hinge elementsthat are positioned at the rear corners of said box, each of said hingeelements including a first and second plate, said plates being hingedlyattached to each other and each plate overlying the inner surface of therear wall of its associated section at the opposite end portion thereof,each of said plates being in engagement with said inner surface of therear wall of its associated section but otherwise disconnectedtherefrom, flanges integrally joined to said plates and extendingperpendicularly from the sides thereof, each of said flanges engagingthe inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the associated sectionand being in substantially the same plane, and means for securing'eachof said flangesto its respec tive side wall.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,866Trotter Feb. 22, 1910 1,008,662 Mollart Nov. 14, 1911 1,626,301 RhodesApr. 26, 1927 2,493,580 Heilmann Jan. 3, 1950

1. IN A BOX CONSTRUCTED OF A MATERIAL HAVING THE FLEXIBLECHARACTERISTICS OF CARDBOARD, A BODY SECTION, A COVER SECTION ADAPTED TOOVERLIE SAID BODY SECTION, SAID BODY AND COVER SECTIONS EACH HAVINGFRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS, HINGE MEANS FOR HINGEDLY ATTACHING SAIDSECTIONS TO EACH OTHER WITH THEIR WALLS IN SUBSTANTIALLY EDGE-TO-EDGEABUTTING RELATION, SAID HINGE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF HINGE ELEMENTSTHAT ARE POSITIONED AT THE REAR CORNERS OF SAID BOX, EACH OF SAID HINGEELEMENTS INCLUDING A FIRST AND SECOND PLATE, SAID PLATES BEING HINGEDLYATTACHED TO EACH OTHER AND EACH PLATE OVERLYING THE INNER SURFACE OF THEREAR WALL OF ITS ASSOCIATED SECTION AT THE OPPOSITE END PORTION THEREOF,EACH OF SAID PLATES BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INNER SURFACE OF THEREAR WALL OF ITS ASSOCIATED SECTION BUT OTHERWISE DISCONNECTEDTHEREFROM, FLANGES INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID PLATES AND EXTENDINGPERPENDICULARLY FROM THE SIDES THEREOF, EACH OF SAID FLANGES ENGAGINGTHE INNER SURFACE OF THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL OF THE ASSOCIATED SECTIONAND BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE, THE EDGE OF EACH OF SAIDFLANGES THAT IS ADJACENT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED PLATE BEINGCOEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, THE OTHER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID FLANGES THAT ISADJACENT THE HINGE AXIS OF SAID HINGE ELEMENTS BEING FORESHORTENED WITHRESPECT TO THE EDGE OF SAID PLATE ADJACENT THERETO, AND MEANS FORSECURING EACH OF SAID FLANGES TO ITS RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL.